Biracial male citizens subject to conion

By Lee Tae-hoon

All able South Korean men, regardless of their skin color or ethnic background, will be subject to mandatory military duty starting Jan. 1, as those who look distinctively from a multiethnic background will no longer be exempted from conscription.

As a result, it will become compulsory for any male Korean citizen, despite a multicultural background, aged over 19 to have a physical examination for enlistment, according to the Military Manpower Administration Thursday.

Previously, the military excluded half-Koreans with distinctively non-Asian features from mandatory duty over fears that they would encounter culture shock and face difficulties in adjusting to military life.

However, the government has revised the Military Service Act as part of measures to overcome the shortage of troops and prevent discrimination or preferential treatment based on the color of skin.

Fewer than 10 biracial children are exempted from draft per year, but the government forecasts that the number will sharply increase in the near future as the country is becoming increasingly multicultural and the number of international marriages continues to increase.

Statistics show that one out of 10 Korean nationals marries a foreigner and the majority of some 60,000 children here with a multicultural background are expected to reach the age for military service.

Separately, in a bid to curb military dodgers, the military has decided to change the age restriction for military duty from 31 to 36.

For those found to have attempted military dodging, it will extend the age limit to 38 as many Koreans intentionally stay overseas and renounce their citizenship to avoid the draft.

The military will also suspend further shortening of the mandatory service period early next year, scrapping its original plan to gradually reduce it by six months in 2014.

The Army will fix the service period at 21 months, down from 24 months, starting late February. The Navy and the Air Force will also lower their service period by three months, setting it to 23 and 24 months, respectively from early January.

In addition, the military will extend the current five weeks of basic military training for new recruits to eight weeks and intensify the level of their physical and psychological training from next year. Enlisted men will receive military training on Saturdays as well.